The next few months will be a critical time for many retailers. Quarterly rents are due on 25 March, and rises in the National Living Wage kick in from 1 April.

Robert Hayton, head of UK business rates at Altus Group, which conducted the research, said: “It remains tough for high street businesses right now, while Brexit uncertainty is also hurting both manufacturers and the service industries. During the last decade, revenue from business rates has risen by 32% in England – up £6.04bn to £24.76bn for the current year. Next month’s Spring Statement shouldn’t just be an update on the UK’s economic outlook but a meaningful opportunity to deliver a stimulus to all sectors by freezing the planned rate rises.”

Have your say

Please remember that the submission of any material is governed by our Terms and Conditions and by submitting material you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions. Links may be included in your comments but HTML is not permitted.